There are a large number of people (although statistically a minority), who have conspiratorial beliefs. These people interpret different events in a different way than the majority, not accepting the official version and looking for an alternative vision that may be more or less viable.

Some of these theories are viable, while others are bizarre and implausible. Why people believe in conspiracies has been researched on numerous occasions , finding some factors that can have an effect on the probability of believing in them. In this article we make a brief reference to some of them.

What are conspiracy theories?

To understand why people believe in conspiracy theories we must first be clear about what a conspiracy theory is. A conspiracy theory is defined as any theory or elaborated belief that deals with the association of different people and/or organisms whose link tries to achieve the manipulation of the events in order to achieve their objectives, behind the majority opinion and often being this objective or the means to achieve it or to hide it something that affects negatively to the rest of the population, to a part of it or even to a specific individual.

Generally, these theories are based on the elaboration of a concrete interpretation of some phenomenon, going beyond the facts and empirically proven data . The event in question on which they are based may have already occurred, may occur in the future or is considered to be occurring at this time.

It should be noted that these theories do not appear out of thin air: they start from some kind of real event that is interpreted in an alternative way. In some cases they resemble the delusions typical of different mental disorders, their content not being supported by empirical evidence (although some elements are considered as proof of the theory), they are not shared by the majority and they are usually fixed and impervious to changes, often considering that those who deny them may become part of the conspiracy.

Often, the maintenance and belief in these theories can generate alterations and repercussions in the subject’s life and even in that of other people, such as avoiding exposure to certain stimuli even though they may be beneficial (e.g. vaccines), being the object of ridicule and criticism, making social interaction difficult or even causing the person’s complete isolation (either because the person is isolated or because of social rejection). It can also make it difficult to perform academically or at work, depending on the case.

Not all conspiracy theories are the same. Some of these theories include elements of fantasy or science fiction , while others are relatively plausible and may arise from the interpretation of real facts. In fact, although most of them are usually false or a distortion of real facts, some theories initially considered as conspiracy or product of delusions have proved to be real, as it happened with Martha Mischel with the Watergate case and the corruption in Nixon’s time, the existence of the Jewish Holocaust or the MK Ultra project.

Factors linked to the belief in conspiracy theories

While many of these theories are very interesting, they are not generally believed by the majority of the population . Although some are defended by more or less groups and individuals, statistically speaking few consider them true, support them and defend them.

What makes these people believe in one or more conspiracy theories? Are there common aspects that make it easier for them to believe in little shared theories and for which there is often no palpable and irrefutable proof (which in turn is considered in many of these theories to be proof of their concealment)? In this sense, different investigations have been carried out on this subject. Some of the factors that have been found to be linked to this type of conspiratorial beliefs are the following.

1. Differences in perception

Some studies reflect that people who believe in supernatural phenomena and conspiracy theories considered irrational (although we are talking about a non-clinical population, without psychopathology) tend to have certain differences from those who do not in terms of pattern perception. This perception is what makes us identify facts and stimuli based on a pattern or stimulus previously acquired, making associations between both.

In the case of those who create conspiracy theories, they would tend more easily than the rest of the population to identify illusory patterns, linking elements that are not necessarily linked and considering that they have cause-effect relationships between them. In other words, they have a greater tendency to connect stimuli and elements that are considered to be associated even when their appearance is random . This has been observed in research in which the perception of patterns in the presentation of visual stimuli has been worked on, tending to make more recognition of supposed patterns.

2. Need for control/uncertainty tolerance

Some of the people who decide to believe in this type of theories reflect a strong need to control or manage the uncertainty of events for those who do not find an explanation or the existing explanation does not convince them. The human being tends to seek to provide a structure to the world and the events that occur in it, and conspiracy theories could supply this need in the absence of an explanation that is more in line with the schemes themselves.

Also, people who have little sense of control over what they experience are often more likely to believe that someone else is running the show.

3. Life events and learning

Another factor to take into account is the existence of high levels of stress, the specific events that we have lived through in our personal history and the learning that we have done throughout our lives. For example, it is easier to believe in a government conspiracy if we consider that the government has defrauded, deceived or used us on some occasion. It has been observed that situations of intense and continuous stress also facilitate the belief in conspiracy theories .

Also the education and the kind of beliefs we have been exposed to in childhood. For example, if we do not believe in aliens it will be difficult to believe that an outer space species is invading us, or if someone has grown up with people who espoused a certain theory it will be easier (though not determinative) for that belief to be considered true.

4. Need for distinction

Another element that may motivate the belief in this type of theories is, according to different studies and research carried out by the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, the need for distinction or to feel unique. It is important to take into account that this need does not have to be something conscious .

Research on this subject was carried out through the implementation of various scales that measured the importance of being unique and different and the belief in conspiracies and the control of others over the behavior and events that we live. The subjects were then exposed to a list of different conspiracy theories to indicate whether they believed any of them to be true. In another experiment, such a theory was even created to observe whether or not it was believed and whether or not this was linked to the need for differentiation. Even after indicating this fact.

The results reflected indicated that in a large percentage of the cases people who believed in conspiracies or had a mentality that facilitated their belief possessed a higher level of need for distinctiveness and uniqueness . The data obtained by these studies indicate that the need to feel different and unique has an existing and considered significant effect on the belief in conspiracy theories, although this effect is at a modest level that does not govern or determine the belief itself.

It was also noted that the popularity of the theory itself did not affect most participants with the exception of those who attached themselves to a large number of these (reducing their level of belief the more popular it was). In the latter cases there would be a greater need for attention and to feel different .

Bibliographic references

  • Imhoff, R. & Lamberty, K. (2017). Too special to be duped: Need for uniqueness motivates conspiracy beliefs. European Journal of Social Psychology.
  • Swami, V.; Chamorro-Premuzic, T. & Furnham, A. (2009) Unanswered questions: A preliminary investigation of personality and individual difference predictors of 9/11 conspiracist beliefs. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24 (6): 749-761.
  • Van Prooijen, J.W.; Douglas, K.M. & De Inocencio, C. (2017). Connecting the dots: Illusory pattern perception predicts belief in conspiracies and the supernatural. European Journal of Social Psychology.